Torches and methods of using them

Abstract

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to a torch that includes a lanthanide or actinide material. In some embodiments, the torch can include one or more other materials in combination with the lanthanide or actinide material. In some embodiments, the torch can comprise cerium, terbium or thorium. In other embodiments, the torch can comprise a lanthanide or actinide material comprising a melting point higher than the melting point of quartz.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of reducing degradation of a torch configured to sustain an atomization source, the method comprising providing a torch comprising a hollow cylindrical outer tube comprising an entrance end within a first section of the hollow cylindrical outer tube and an exit end within a second section of the hollow cylindrical outer tube, wherein the first section comprises a non-lanthanide or a non-actinide material, and wherein the first section and the second section are coupled to each other through at least one material, in which the exit end of the outer tube comprises an effective length and an effective amount of a lanthanide or actinide material to prevent degradation of the exit end of the torch, and wherein the at least one material coupling the first section and the second section is different than the non-refractory material of the first section and the at least one lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end of the second section. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end to be present at the effective length in a longitudinal direction of the torch and along an internal surface of the hollow cylindrical outer tube of the torch. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end to be coated onto an inner surface of the hollow cylindrical outer tube of the torch. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide material of the exit end as cerium or terbium, the actinide material of the exit end as thorium, or the lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end as any lanthanide or actinide that has a working temperature greater than 750 degrees Celsius or greater than 1300 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the torch with a hollow cylindrical inner tube comprising an entrance end and an exit end, in which the exit end of the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises an effective amount and an effective length of a lanthanide material or an actinide material. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , comprising configuring the entire second section of the hollow cylindrical outer tube to comprise the lanthanide or the actinide material. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising configuring the hollow cylindrical outer tube with an opening within the second section comprising the lanthanide or actinide material. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising configuring the opening with an optically transparent material. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising configuring the hollow cylindrical outer tube to comprise a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the hollow cylindrical outer tube. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling the first section and the second section to each other with an adhesive or cement. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising coupling the first section and the second section through a frit or a ground glass joint. 
     
     
       12. A method of reducing degradation of a torch configured to sustain an atomization source, the method comprising providing a torch comprising a hollow cylindrical outer tube comprising an entrance end and an exit end coupled to each other through at least one material, wherein the torch further comprises a hollow cylindrical inner tube within the hollow cylindrical outer tube, in which the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises an entrance end and an exit end, in which the entrance end of the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises a non-lanthanide or non-actinide material and the exit end of the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises a lanthanide or actinide material, and in which the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube comprises an effective amount and an effective length of a lanthanide or actinide material to prevent degradation of the exit end of the outer tube. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube to be present at the effective length in a longitudinal direction of the torch and along an internal surface of the outer tube of the torch. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide or actinide material of the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube to be coated onto an inner surface of the hollow cylindrical outer tube of the torch. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the lanthanide material of the exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube as cerium or terbium, the actinide material as thorium, or configuring the lanthanide or actinide material of exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube as any lanthanide or actinide material that has a working temperature greater than 750 degrees Celsius or greater than 1300 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , in which the exit end of the hollow cylindrical inner tube comprises an effective amount of a cerium. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , comprising configuring the entire exit end of the hollow cylindrical outer tube to comprise the lanthanide or the actinide material. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising configuring the hollow cylindrical outer tube with an opening within the exit end comprising the lanthanide or actinide material. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the opening with an optically transparent material. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising configuring the hollow cylindrical outer tube to comprise a substantially constant diameter along a longitudinal dimension of the hollow cylindrical outer tube.